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Cardinal Walter Kasper: The Pope's 'family man'

Published: 12 March 2014

'I told the Pope from the very beginning that I have my opinions and he encouraged me to speak about my opinions, he wanted an open discussion about an urgent problem,' explains Cardinal Kasper, who has addressed cardinals.

- Vatican Radio

The Gospel of the Family is the title of a book, to be published this week in German and Italian, featuring the reflection with which Cardinal Walter Kasper introduced the forthcoming Synod on the family at February's consistory with Pope Francis and cardinals.

The retired German Cardinal, who previously headed the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, made headlines when his words on why the Church must support divorced and remarried Catholics were leaked in the Italian press.

But Kasper told us the main purpose of his speech to the cardinals was to deepen the theological understanding of challenges facing the family, ahead of the first synod on that subject to be held in the Vatican next October.

While the Church must remain faithful to its teaching on the indissolubility of the sacrament of marriage, he said, it is vital to 'help, support, encourage' those experiencing difficulties in their family life.

'I maintain the full teaching of the Church but the teaching has to be applied to concrete situations, as Jesus did it and as Pope Francis does it very often.....the doctrine of the Church is not an ideology in the clouds but God wants to be present, close to his people,' Cardinal Kasper said.